Attachment EchoStar - Grant Jan

EchoStar - Grant Jan

DECISION submitted by IB,FCC

Grant

2013-01-17

This document pretains to SAT-STA-20121203-00207 for Special Temporal Authority on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATSTA2012120300207_981869

                                                                                             File # SpTSn 2012 1203— 60207
$2232        SAT—STA—201                                                                      h   hanyy       Ateral
EchoStar Satellite Operatiigg')‘:o%? .           182012002761                                 {           dn               lily      |
EchoStar 6                           poration                                                Call Sign $2232 GrantDate_OZ17/.
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        Date & Time Filed: Dec 3 2012 5:20:58:716PM                     zo        es                      4        S               J. Duall
        File Number: SAT—STA—20121203—00207                         swith conditions                                     <P
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        Callsign:
                                                                FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                                                APPLICATION FOR SPACE STATION SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY

                                                                        FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY


          APPLICANT INFORMATION
        Enter a description of this application to identify it on the main menu:
        Application for Special Temporary Authority to Operate EchoStar 6 at 76.80 W.L.
        1. Applicant

                        Name:          EchoStar Satellite Operating          Phone Number:                                 202—293—0981
                                       Corporation
                        DBA Name:                                            Fax Number:

                        Street:        100 Inverness Terrace East            E—Mail:


                        City:          Englewood                             State:                                         CO
                        Country:        USA                                  Zipcode:                                      80112         +
                        Attention:     Ms Alison Minea


                                EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation
                                IBFS File No. SAT—STA—20121203—00207
                                             Call Sign $2232

The application of EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation (EchoStar) for special temporary authority,
IBFS File No. SAT—STA—20121203—00207, is granted. Accordingly, EchoStar is authorized, for a period
of 180 days, to operate the EchoStar 6 Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) service space station (Call Sign
$2232) at the 76.80° W.L. orbital location on DBS channels 1—32 with feeder links in the 17.3—17.8 GHz
(Earth—to—space) frequency band and service links in the 12.2—12.7 GHz (space—to—Earth) frequency band.
EchoStar is also authorized to conduct tracking, telemetry and command (TT&C) operations using the
following center frequencies: 17.3050 GHz (Earth—to—space); and 12.2030 GHz, 12.2040 GHz (space—to—
Earth). Operations under this authorization are subject to the terms, conditions, and technical
specifications set forth in EchoStar‘s application and the Federal Communications Commission‘s rules,
and are subject to the conditions set forth below.

        1.       All operations under this grant of special temporary authority must be on an unprotected
and non—harmful interference basis. EchoStar must not cause harmful interference to, and must not claim
protection from interference caused to it by, any other lawfully operating radio communication system.

         #2l    In the event of any harmful interference as a result of operations under this grant of
special temporary authority, EchoStar must cease operations immediately upon notification of such
interference and must immediately inform the Commission, in writing, of such an event.

         3.      EchoStar must coordinate operations of EchoStar 6 with existing geostationary space
stations to ensure that no unacceptable interference results from its operations at the 76.80° W.L. orbital
location.

        4.      While at the 76.80° W.L. orbital location, EchoStar must maintain the EchoStar 6 space
station with an east/west longitudinal station—keeping tolerance of + 0.05 degrees.

        $;      EchoStar must comply with the applicable laws, regulations, rules and authorization
process of any country in which it seeks to provide service.

         6.     Any action taken or expense incurred as a result of operations pursuant to this grant of
special temporary authority is at EchoStar‘s own risk.

        Ts       EchoStar is afforded thirty days from the date of release of this grant and authorization to
decline this authorization as conditioned. Failure to respond within this period will constitute formal
acceptance of the authorization as conditioned.

         8.      This grant is issued pursuant to Section 0.261 of the Commission‘s rules on delegated
authority, 47 C.F.R. § 0.261, and is effective upon release.


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                                                                                  Chief, Satellite Plicy Branch


2. Contact


             Name:          Pantelis Michalopoulos                Phone Number:                       202—429—6494
             Company:       Steptoe & Johnson LLP                 Fax Number:

             Street:        1330 Connecticut Avenue NW            E—Mail:                             pmichalopoulos@steptoe.com



             City:          Washington                           State:                                DC
             Country:       USA                                  Zipcode:                             20036      —
             Attention:                                          Relationship:                        Legal Counsel


  (If your application is related to an application filed with the Commission, enter either the file number or the IB Submission ID of the related
application. Please enter only one.)
   3. Reference File Number or Submission ID

 4a. Is a fee submitted with this application?
& IfYes, complete and attach FCC Form 159.           If No, indicate reason for fee exemption (see 47 C.F.R.Section 1.1114).
¢74 Governmental Entity      ¢*% Noncommercial educational licensee
C3 Other(please explain):

4b. Fee Classification

5. Type Request


¢4 Change Station Location                        {4 Extend Expiration Date                          & Other


6. Temporary Orbit Location                                                 7. Requested Extended Expiration Date
        76.80 W.L.


8. Description   (If the complete description does not appear in this box, please go to the end of the form to view it in its entirety.)
     EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation requests Special Temporary Authority to operate
     the EchoStar 6 satellite at 76.80 W.L.                        See attached narrative.




9. By checking Yes, the undersigned certifies that neither applicant nor any other party to the application is subject     @ Yes           «3 No
to a denial of Federal benefits that includes FCC benefits pursuant to Section 5301 of the Anti—Drug Act of 1988,
21 U.S.C. Section 862, because of a conviction for possession or distribution of a controlled substance. See 47 CFR
1.2002(b) for the meaning of &quot;party to the application&quot; for these purposes.


10. Name of Person Signing                                                  11. Title of Person Signing
Alison Minea                                                                Corporate Counsel
12. Please supply any need attachments.
 Attachment 1: Narrative                           Attachment 2:                                      Attachment 3:



          WILLFUL FALSE STATEMENTS MADE ON THIS FORM ARE PUNISHABLE BY FINE AND / OR IMPRISONMENT
                     (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001), AND/OR REVOCATION OF ANY STATION AUTHORIZATION
                      (U.S. Code, Title 47, Section 312(a)(1)), AND/OR FORFEITURE (U.S. Code, Title 47, Section 503).


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1, 1995, 44 U.S.C. SECTION 3507.


                                             Before the
                      FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20554




In the Matter of

ECHOSTAR SATELLITE OPERATING                         File No. SAT—STA—2012
CORPORATION                                          File No. SAT—STA—2012
                                                     Call Sign $2232
Applications for Special Temporary
Authority to Move EchoStar 6 to, and
Operate It at, 76.80° W.L.




              APPLICATIONS FOR SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY‘!

       EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation ("ESOC," and collectively with its affiliates,

"EchoStar") hereby requests 30—day special temporary authority ("STA") under Section

25.120(b) of the Commission‘s rules* beginning on or about December 11, 2012: (a) to move

the EchoStar 6 satellite from its current orbital position at 76.95° W.L. to the 76.80° W.L. orbital

position; and (b) to operate the satellite at 76.80° W.L. EchoStar further requests a 180—day STA

to operate EchoStar 6 at 76.80° W.L. once the satellite has been relocated. This request is being

made to accommodate the move of QuetzSat—1 to 77.05° W.L.

1.     BACKGROUND

       The nominal 77° W.L. orbital location is allotted to Mexico under the Region 2

Broadcasting—Satellite Service plan set forth in Appendices 30 and 30A to the International



‘ Concurrent with this application, EchoStar is filing applications for STA to operate three of its
transmit/receive earth stations with EchoStar 6 to provide the necessary telemetry, tracking, and
control ("TT&C") services to EchoStar 6 during its relocation to 76.80° W.L. and once relocation
is complete.
2 47 C.F.R. § 25.120(b).


Radio Regulations. In additionv to the EchoStar 6 satellite, ESOC currently operates two Direct

Broadcast Satellite ("DBS") service satellites at the nominal 77° W.L. orbital location under

Mexican authority issued to its partner, QuetzSat, S. de R.L. de C.V. ("QuetzSat"): EchoStar 1

and EchoStar 8. EchoStar 8 is used by EchoStar‘s customers, DISH Network L.L.C. and DISH

Mexico, to provide DBS service in the United States and Mexico, and EchoStar 6 and EchoStar 1

provide backup to the United States and Mexico services, respectively. The U.S. service

includes local—into—local and Spanish—language programming in a number of markets in the

southern United States.

       Since February 2011, EchoStar 6 has been operating at 76.95° W.L., alongside EchoStar

1 and EchoStar 8, providing sufficient capacity to avoid service disruptions from that slot in the

event of an anomaly affecting one of those satellites. ESOC has been operating EchoStar 6 at an

inclined orbit since December 12, 2011." The relocation of EchoStar 6 to 76.95° W.L. was

prompted by a single event upset that temporarily affected the EchoStar 8 satellite." ESOC

subsequently filed an application to transfer EchoStar 6 to QuetzSat to facilitate operation of the

satellite under Mexican authority," as well as an application to modify its blanket earth station

authorization to provide service to the United States once EchoStar 6 was reflagged."


       * Letter from Pantelis Michalopoulos, Counsel for EchoStar Corporation, to Marlene H.
Dortch, Secretary, FCC, File No. SAT—STA—20111004—00194 (Dec. 2, 2011).
       * See Letter from Petra A. Vorwig, Counsel for EchoStar Corporation, to Marlene H.
Dortch, Secretary, FCC, File No. SAT—T/C—20090217—00026 (Feb. 1, 2011).
       ° See File No. SAT—T/C—20110314—00054 (filed Mar. 14, 2011). On April 21, 2011, the
Commission consented to the pro forma assignment of EchoStar‘s authorization to launch and
operate EchoStar 6 to ESOC. See File No. SAT—ASG—20110224—00033 (granted Apr. 21, 2011).
The pro forma assignment was consummated on May 23, 2011. See Letter from Pantelis
Michalopoulos and L. Lisa Sandoval, Counsel for EchoStar Corporation and EchoStar Satellite
Operating Corporation, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, File No. SAT—ASG—20110224—
00033 (May 23, 2011).
       ° See File No. SES—MFS—20110314—00288 (filed Mar. 14, 2011).


                                                —3


After consultation with the Commission, and given EchoStar 6‘ s limited remaining life,‘ ESOC

no longer believes the transfer of EchoStar 6 to Mexican authority is necessary and has

accordingly withdrawn that application.®

       EchoStar plans to direct the move of the QuetzSat—1 satellite to 77.05° W.L. beginning in

December 2012. In anticipation of this move, EchoStar seeks to move EchoStar 6 from 76.95°

W.L. to 76.80° W.L. and to move EchoStar 8 from 77.05° W.L. to 76.90° W.L. ESOC

understands that the Mexican concessionaire for the 77° W.L. orbital location has informed the

Mexican regulator, Comision Federal de Telecomunicaciones, ofits plans to operate EchoStar 6

at this location under STA and that it has no objection.

       For the reasons set forth below, the relocation of EchoStar 6 to 76.80° W.L. will not

cause harmful interference to any authorized user of the spectrum and would be in the public

interest. Accordingly, the Commission should grant the requested STAs.

IL.    THIS REQUEST IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND WILL NOT CAUSE
       HARMFUL INTERFERENCE

       Grant of this application is in the public interest because it will ensure the continued

provision of DBS service to the United States, including the provision of local—into—local and

Spanish—language service in the southern United States. It will also ensure that the subscribers of

EchoStar‘s customers will continue to receive both national and local programming, by

providing spare capacity at 77° W.L. in the event that EchoStar 8 suffers an anomaly.




       ‘ See Letter from Pantelis Michalopoulos and Christopher Bjornson, Counsel for
EchoStar Corporation, to Stephen Duall, International Bureau, FCC, File No. SAT—MOD—
20100720—00164 (Sept. 27, 2010).
       ® Letter from Pantelis Michalopoulos, Counsel for EchoStar Satellite Operating
Corporation, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, File Nos. SAT—T/C—20110314—00054; SAT—
STA—20120914—00150 (Sept. 26, 2012).


Additionally, operating EchoStar 6 at an inclined orbit extends the time that the satellite is able

to provide services to customers.

       The continued operation of EchoStar 6 at 76.80° W.L. will not cause harmful interference

to any other U.S.—licensed satellite operator. No U.S.—assigned DBS orbital locations are in the

vicinity of 77° W.L. (the closest U.S. orbital location is 61.5° W.L., an orbital location in which

only ESOC operates DBS satellites). Likewise no harmful interference will result from the

operation of an additional satellite at 76.80° W.L. into Canada‘s DBS allotments at 72.5° W.L.

and 82° W.L. There is an existing coordination agreement between Mexico and Canada

regarding the Mexican 77° W.L. orbital location and the Canadian 82° W.L. and 72.5° W.L.

orbital locations. ESOC will operate EchoStar 6 according to the specifications of this

coordination agreement. ESOC will also abide by the Commission‘s requirements for inclined—

orbit operations."

       Finally, the operation of the EchoStar 6 satellite at 76.80° W.L. will not create any risk of

in—orbit collision. ESOC will maintain EchoStar 6 within £+0.05° east/west station—keeping,

which will ensure that its station—keeping volume will not overlap with ESOC‘s own satellites at

77° W.L.

III.   OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS

       During relocation maneuvers and maintenance of EchoStar 6 at the 76.80° W.L. orbital

location, EchoStar will operate the satellite subject to the following conditions:

        1. EchoStar shall coordinate all drift operations with other potentially affected in—orbit
           operators.



       ° See 47 C.F.R. § 25.280(b). These requirements are intended to ensure that a satellite‘s
inclined orbit operations cause no more radio frequency interference to adjacent satellites than
would a satellite operating without an inclined orbit. See Mitigation of Orbital Debris, Second
Report and Order, 19 FCC Red. 11567, 11586—87 «[ 45 n.129 (2004).


       2. Drift operations and operations at 76.80° W.L. shall be on a non—harmful interference
          basis, meaning that EchoStar shall not cause interference to, and shall not claim
          protections from, interference caused to it by any other lawfully operating satellites.

       3. In the event that any harmful interference is caused as a result of operations during
           the relocation of the EchoStar 6 satellite or while the satellite is at 76.80° W.L.,
           EchoStar shall cease operations immediately upon notification of such interference
           and shall inform the Commission immediately, in writing, of such event.

IV.    WAIVER PURSUANT TO SECTION 304 OF THE ACT

       In accordance with Section 304 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended,

47 U.S.C. § 304, ESOC hereby waives any claim to the use of any particular frequency or use of

the electromagnetic spectrum as against the regulatory power of the United States because of the

previous use of the same, whether by license or otherwise.

v.     CONCLUSION

       For the foregoing reasons, ESOC respectfully requests grant of its application for 30—day

STA, beginning on or about December 11, 2012, to move EchoStar 6 to 76.80° W.L. and to

operate it there. ESOC further requests that the Commission grant its application for STA to

operate EchoStar 6 at 76.80° W.L. for 180 days.


                                                Respectfully submitted,

                                                           Is/
Pantelis Michalopoulos                           Alison Minea
Stephanie A. Roy                                 Corporate Counsel
Jessica I. Rothschild                            EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation
Steptoe & Johnson LLP                            1110 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 750
1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW                      Washington, D.C. 20005
Washington, D.C. 20036                           (202) 293—0981
(202) 429—3000
Counselfor EchoStar Satellite Operating
Corporation


December 3, 2012



Document Created: 2013-01-17 15:54:23
Document Modified: 2013-01-17 15:54:23

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